Recollections of the Private Life of Napoleon — Complete eBook

The heart of our soldiers palpitated with enthusiasm,
and on that day they felt the emotions of the day
of victory! Ney and his division gained immortality
by this marvelous display of valor and energy.
So much the better for the few survivors of this handful
of braves, who can read of the great deeds they have
done, in these annals inspired by them. His Majesty
said several times, “I would give all the silver
in the vaults of the Tuileries to have my brave Ney
at my side.”

To Prince Eugene was given the honor of going to meet
Marshal Ney, with a corps of four thousand soldiers.
Marshal Mortier had disputed this honor with him,
but among these illustrious men there were never any
but noble rivalries. The danger was immense;
the cannon of Prince Eugene was used as a signal,
understood by the marshal, to which he replied by platoon
fires. The two corps met, and even before they
were united, Marshal Ney and Prince Eugene were in
each other’s arms; and it is said that the latter
wept for joy. Such scenes make this horrible picture
seem somewhat less gloomy. As far as the Beresina,
our march was only a succession of small skirmishes
and terrible sufferings.

The Emperor passed one night at Caniwki, in a wooden
cabin containing only two rooms. The one at the
back was selected by him, and in the other the whole
service slept pell-mell. I was more comfortable,
as I slept in his Majesty’s room; but several
times during the night I was obliged to pass into
this room, and was then compelled to step over the
sleepers worn out by fatigue. Although I took
care not to hurt them, they were so close together
that it was impossible not to place my feet on their
legs or arms.

In the retreat from Moscow, the Emperor walked on
foot, wrapped in his pelisse, his head covered with
a Russian cap tied under the chin. I marched
often near the brave Marshal Lefebvre, who seemed very
fond of me, and said to me in his German-French, in
speaking of the Emperor, “He is surrounded by
a set of who do not tell the truth; he does not distinguish
sufficiently his good from his bad servants. How
will he get out of this, the poor Emperor, whom I
love so devotedly? I am always in fear of his
life; if there were needed to save him only my blood,
I would shed it drop by drop; but that would change
nothing, and perhaps he may have need of me.”

CHAPTER VII.

The day preceding the passage of the Beresina was
one of terrible solemnity. The Emperor appeared
to have made his decision with the cool resolution
of a man who commits an act of desperation; nevertheless,
councils were held, and it was resolved that the army
should strip itself of all useless burdens which might
harass its march. Never was there more unanimity
of opinion, never were deliberations more calm or grave.
It was the calm of men who decide to make one last
effort, trusting in the will of God and their own